Oceania Cycling excited to kick-off inaugural Pacific Cup in Guam
After two years of postponement due to COVID, the Pacific Cup is about to take off in December in Guam. For this inaugural occasion Road Cycling will be contested in two events for both men and women:
- Pacific Cup Time Trial – Friday 9 December (30km out and back course)
- Pacific Cup Road Race – Sunday 11 December (105km loop around the south of the island)
The Oceania Cycling Board are delighted to have six nations contest the women’s events – Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and Guam – and with Vanuatu added, seven nations will contest the men’s events.
Host nation Guam are expected to be hard to beat on home territory, but there will be plenty competition in what is the first inter-island cycling competition held in the Pacific in twenty years
The Oceania Cycling Confederation (OCC) acknowledges the solidarity support from the International Cycling Union (UCI), which underpins the Pacific Cup.
Pacific Cup to host education training
At the time of the Pacific Cup, Oceania Cycling is conducting a series of education and training courses, mainly for northern Pacific members from Guam and CNMI, but some will be travelling from further afield as well.
While the Pacific Cup marks a significant advancement in developing Pacific cycling’s athlete pathway, the OCC will also focus on officiating and coach education. With financial assistance from OSFO’s Regional Sports Grant Scheme and technical support from AusCycling, this unique opportunity won’t be wasted as on-line theory courses will be finalised with practical training and final assessment incorporating real event experiences of the Pacific Cup.
Oceania performed at a ‘home’ World Road Cycling Championships
Wollongong came alive when the world’s top road cyclists converged on the Australian regional city earlier this year.
The UCI World Road Championships have established a reputation as one of the world’s biggest sporting events held on an annual basis. In what was only the second occasion in which this event has been held in the Oceania region – and indeed in the Southern Hemisphere – in over 100 years of history, both the host city of Wollongong and the Oceania athletes competing both did us proud.
Oceania Podium Results:
GOLD
- Niamh Fisher-Black (NZL) Women’s U23 Road Race
SILVER
- Grace Brown (AUS) Women’s Elite Time Trial
- Hamish McKenzie (AUS) Junior Men’s Time Trial
BRONZE
- Michael Matthews (AUS) Men’s Elite Road Race
- AUSTRALIA: Mixed Team Time Trial Relay
However, one of the highlights of the championships was the appearance of three Pacific Island teams – Samoa, Tahiti and New Caledonia – contesting the Mixed Team Time Trial Relay. It was a unique experience for these teams and the warm reception from the crowd marked a significant step in Pacific cycling development.
This was backed up by Guam also having competitors in the men’s time trials and men’s U23 road race.
Cycling Fiji builds BMX pump track in Suva
After a long period of delays on the back of COVID-19 lockdowns and a cyclone, Fiji have launched a new BMX pump track in Suva. With thanks to the University of the South Pacific, UCI solidarity seed funding, Dirtz Tracks designers and builders (AUS), operators from Hiway Stabilisers, and a small army of volunteers, this project has become a reality.
With a little more work to be done to add some bitumen to increase track endurance, this amazing facility is ready to play a major role in getting kids on bikes for health and fun, improving their skills and possibly igniting some competitiveness for cycle sport.
